In the News: Oncology - June 2016

Daclizumab (Zinbryta) has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis. The drug is self-administered by the patient monthly, and comes in the form of a long-acting injection.

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved Netspot, the first kit for preparation of gallium Ga 68 dotatate injection, for the detection of neuroendocrine tumors in adult and pediatric patients. The injection serves as a radioactive diagnostic agent for positron emission tomography imaging.

The first blood test for detecting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations in patients with non−small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. The cobas EGFR Mutation Test v2 is a blood-based diagnostic that aids in selecting patients with NSCLC who may benefit from treatment with erlotinib (Tarceva).